Do you think there are people in the world who have no ties, no family, no home? Do you think there are people in the world who have no feelings? No heart? We know some mercenaries kill people for money without any thought or feeling of remorse. But what happens if one or two of those mercenaries fell in love and got a conscience? What if they wanted to live normal lives? Have a family? Would the powers that be ever let them? If they were part of "Shadow Force", the answer would be no, and the former mercenaries would be running for their lives.
Kyrah Owens (Kerry Washington; Scandal) and Isaac Sar (Omar Sy; X-Men: Days of Future Past) were once hired killers working for an organization called Shadow Force. Several years ago, they were teamed together and accidentally fell in love. They hid their attraction, but when Kyrah found out she was pregnant, they ran and hid from the organization. You see... the rule is nobody ever leaves Shadow Force. Their lives, and that of their newborn son, Ky (Jahleel Kamara; Manifest), were in danger. So they made a decision. Isaac and Ky went into hiding, and Kyrah kept to the shadows, hunting down those who were hunting her and her family.
However, one day, when Isaac and Ky got caught in the middle of a bank robbery, Isaac sprang into action and used his former training to attack the robbers. His move put him back on the radar, and now, thanks to closed caption TV, Shadow Force Leader, Cinder (Mark Strong; Kingsman: The Secret Service), knows Isaac and Kyrah have a son. Cinder sends all of his mercenaries out to get them because, for him, their relationship was a personal affront, and he wants to make them pay.
Washington has always played strong, bad-ass women, and Kyrah is no exception. She is tough and strong, and her fighting skills make her a true action hero. Granted, she is also a mamma bear protecting her cub, and you know what they say about mamma bears. Anyway, Washington fits the role expertly, and for those of us who are used to watching Olivia Pope do her thing, this character is just as smart and scheming but also athletic and mean. Sy matches Washington in both the protective parent and the mercenary roles, but I felt the two actors didn't have the best chemistry. Strong plays Cinder as a ruthless, mean, and heartless man, which fits the role. Honorable mention goes to Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) for her portrayal of "Auntie." She steals the few scenes she is in. The rest of the cast have very few lines but do have their action sequences down pat.
The premise isn't all that unique at first because Shadow Force could fit in nicely into a Mission: Impossible movie, but the twist of having Kyrah and Isaac fall in love and start a family makes it a little more interesting. There are also a few other small twists that add some interesting moments to the plot, but in the end, it is a predictable finish to a typical action film.
Shadow Force is mostly enjoyable, and the cinematography is very well done, offering the audience some stunning visuals. The fight choreography is pretty good, especially the fight scene between Kyrah and Isaac (yes, even though they love each other, they seem to have a physical fight upon being reunited).
Shadow Force probably won't be nominated for any Academy Awards, but it is an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours.
Grade: C+
